St. Mary sinks shots, lifts title

What are the ingredients necessary for a state title? The latest championship trophy to come home to Leelanau County was won through some strange circumstances. Consider that:

 Neither of the St. Mary golf team coaches, Tim Schaub or Jim Varley, could attend the Regional meet. But with parents filling in, the Eagles swept by the competition.

 It was the school’s fourth regional title, and its first state title. Yet there likely won’t be a repeat. With four seniors graduating, the program is not expected to field enough players for a team next season.

 While the title belongs to St. Mary, four of six players on the team are from Leland.

Perhaps it’s fitting that the Eagles don’t fit into a traditional mode. They’ve broken barriers all season, and continued to do so Friday and Saturday in East Lansing in coming from behind to best the Division 4 field by five strokes. They’ve got youth and experience, as freshman Joel Sneed and senior Paul Bardenhagen finished atop the leader board once again.

And they have St. Mary’s first state title. Nice shooting under pressure, boys. We’re all proud of you.